Abstract: This work aims to develop a model that will improve the performance and energy efficiency of a novel electrocoagulation (EC) process utilized in wastewater treatment to extrapolate the findings to an industrial scale. Utilizing Design of experiments (DOE) allows us to maximize treatment efficiency while minimizing energy consumption. This evaluation was conducted by employing aluminum electrodes as sacrificial anodes. The main factors identified in preliminary experiments are the pH of the medium, the applied potential, and the treatment time. A three-level (3³) factorial design was employed to examine the relationship between efficiency performance and energy consumption. Under optimal conditions, treatment efficiency is around 66% for biological oxygen demand within 5 days (BOD₅), 98% for chemical oxygen demand (COD), associated with a minimum energy consumption of 2.39 kW·h·mg^-1 of COD. The parameters most significantly influenced by the mathematical models obtained were the potential or applied current, treatment time, and their interaction. The modeling results were also correlated with the experimental results and there were minimal discrepancies. The modeling results were also correlated with the experimental results to assess the accuracy and validity of the model's predictions and there were minimal discrepancies. The results provide promising possibilities for advancing an environmentally friendly wastewater treatment methodology and an economically viable technological solution.

Key words: Wastewater treatment, Green process, Electrocoagulation, Experimental design, Modeling, Optimization

摘要： This work aims to develop a model that will improve the performance and energy efficiency of a novel electrocoagulation (EC) process utilized in wastewater treatment to extrapolate the findings to an industrial scale. Utilizing Design of experiments (DOE) allows us to maximize treatment efficiency while minimizing energy consumption. This evaluation was conducted by employing aluminum electrodes as sacrificial anodes. The main factors identified in preliminary experiments are the pH of the medium, the applied potential, and the treatment time. A three-level (3³) factorial design was employed to examine the relationship between efficiency performance and energy consumption. Under optimal conditions, treatment efficiency is around 66% for biological oxygen demand within 5 days (BOD₅), 98% for chemical oxygen demand (COD), associated with a minimum energy consumption of 2.39 kW·h·mg^-1 of COD. The parameters most significantly influenced by the mathematical models obtained were the potential or applied current, treatment time, and their interaction. The modeling results were also correlated with the experimental results and there were minimal discrepancies. The modeling results were also correlated with the experimental results to assess the accuracy and validity of the model's predictions and there were minimal discrepancies. The results provide promising possibilities for advancing an environmentally friendly wastewater treatment methodology and an economically viable technological solution.

关键词: Wastewater treatment, Green process, Electrocoagulation, Experimental design, Modeling, Optimization